K0838 HCPCS code: Power wheelchair, group 2 heavy duty, single power option, captains chair, patient weight capacity 301 to 450 pounds
K0838 is the HCPCS Level II code for power wheelchair, group 2 heavy duty, single power option, captains chair, patient weight capacity 301 to 450 pounds. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $510.83 to $694.44 (RR, rental (monthly)) depending on the state. Its Medicare coverage code is C (Carrier judgment): Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case. The NCCI unit limit is 1 per day on DME suppliers. Medicare volume fell 7% from 2022 to 2024 (265 to 246 services). In 2024, 108 suppliers billed Medicare for K0838 (purchases), serving 246 beneficiaries; Indiana, Georgia, Illinois accounted for 62% of services. Its average fee ranks 20 of 46 K08 codes billed RR (family range $105.43–$2,208.58); rural fees run 25% higher.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | K codes — Temporary codes for DME MACs |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 36 — DMEPOS: capped rental item |
| BETOS category | D1D — Wheelchairs |
| Added | 2006-10-01 |
| Last action effective | 2006-10-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for K0838
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RR | rental (monthly) | $510.83 | $694.44 | — | — |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | RR | $654.52 | — |
| AL | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| AR | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| AZ | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| CA | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| CO | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| CT | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| DC | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| DE | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| FL | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| GA | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| HI | RR | $654.52 | — |
| IA | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| ID | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| IL | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| IN | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| KS | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| KY | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| LA | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| MA | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| MD | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| ME | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| MI | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| MN | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| MO | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| MS | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| MT | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| NC | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| ND | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| NE | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| NH | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| NJ | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| NM | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| NV | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| NY | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| OH | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| OK | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| OR | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| PA | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| PR | RR | $694.44 | — |
| RI | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| SC | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| SD | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| TN | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| TX | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| UT | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| VA | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| VI | RR | $654.52 | — |
| VT | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| WA | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| WI | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| WV | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
| WY | RR | $510.83 | $654.52 |
How the K0838 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 46 K08 codes billed RR (lowest = 1) | 20 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $105.43–$2,208.58 |
| Rural fee uplift | 25.3% |
Who bills K0838 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 108 |
| Referring clinicians | 233 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 246 |
| States with claims | 6 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Indiana, Georgia, Illinois) | 62% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 121 | 238 |
| 2023 | 120 | 252 |
| 2024 | 108 | 246 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for K0838, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 265 | 238 | $3,039.19 | $2,381.17 |
| 2023 | 275 | 252 | $3,385.53 | $2,643.29 |
| 2024 | 246 | 246 | $3,453.14 | $2,690.24 |
States with the most K0838 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 26 | $2,661.79 |
| Georgia | 22 | $2,755.63 |
| Illinois | 20 | $2,522.35 |
| Ohio | 15 | $2,666.45 |
| California | 15 | $2,603.22 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 1 | Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction |
Medicare policy articles for this code
- A52498: Power Mobility Devices - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
- A52504: Wheelchair Options/Accessories - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance
What changed for K0838
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee (RR) rose 2.6%: $509.08 to $522.43
- 2006-10-01: K0838 added to HCPCS Level II
- Next scheduled CMS quarterly update (HCPCS and DMEPOS fee schedule): 2027-01-01
Frequently asked questions
What is HCPCS code K0838?
K0838 is the HCPCS Level II code for power wheelchair, group 2 heavy duty, single power option, captains chair, patient weight capacity 301 to 450 pounds. Short descriptor: "Pwc gp 2 hd sing pow opt cap".
How much does Medicare pay for K0838?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are RR (rental (monthly)): $510.83–$694.44. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover K0838?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for K0838 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee for RR moved from $509.08 in 2025 to $522.43 in 2026 (+2.6%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of K0838 can be billed per day?
1 on DME suppliers (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related K08 codes
- K0800 — Power operated vehicle, group 1 standard, patient weight capacity up to and including 300 pounds ($100.07–$1,438.64)
- K0801 — Power operated vehicle, group 1 heavy duty, patient weight capacity 301 to 450 pounds ($181.46–$2,441.80)
- K0802 — Power operated vehicle, group 1 very heavy duty, patient weight capacity 451 to 600 pounds ($241.46–$2,971.04)
- K0806 — Power operated vehicle, group 2 standard, patient weight capacity up to and including 300 pounds ($174.88–$1,930.97)
- K0807 — Power operated vehicle, group 2 heavy duty, patient weight capacity 301 to 450 pounds ($271.02–$2,958.32)
- K0808 — Power operated vehicle, group 2 very heavy duty, patient weight capacity 451 to 600 pounds ($418.96–$4,575.25)
- K0812 — Power operated vehicle, not otherwise classified
- K0813 — Power wheelchair, group 1 standard, portable, sling/solid seat and back, patient weight capacity up to and including 300 pounds ($312.68–$422.33)
- K0814 — Power wheelchair, group 1 standard, portable, captains chair, patient weight capacity up to and including 300 pounds ($321.31–$496.89)
- K0815 — Power wheelchair, group 1 standard, sling/solid seat and back, patient weight capacity up to and including 300 pounds ($350.06–$559.30)
- K0816 — Power wheelchair, group 1 standard, captains chair, patient weight capacity up to and including 300 pounds ($327.71–$529.49)
- K0820 — Power wheelchair, group 2 standard, portable, sling/solid seat/back, patient weight capacity up to and including 300 pounds ($317.50–$467.11)
Building a device that would bill under a code like this? Caduvo matches a device description to HCPCS/CPT codes, Medicare coverage and payment, and the FDA pathway in one report.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under K0838
- Watch K0838 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for K0838
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026; CMS NCCI MUE tables; CMS Medicare utilization (physician and DME supplier files); CMS Medicare Coverage Database articles. Fees are Medicare allowables, not commercial rates. Not billing or legal advice.